This is the 16th chapter. I don't own the series of Maken-Ki.
Tenbi Academy.
Three minutes ago in the third-floor, Haruko, Zane, and Demitra have felt that Tenbi Academy was shaking due to Inaho's Maken Kabuto and they are starting to lose their balance.
"Wha!?...This feeling, is it Inaho!?" Haruko questioned with a shout.
"It felt like it." Zane answered. "And it looks like Inaho have gotten carried away!?"
When Demitra was losing her balance due to Inaho's Maken, Haruko has the opportunity to strike as she uses her kendo stick and jump in mid-air. Zane knew that Haruko was making a smart move, but figured that it won't make any difference because of Demitra's fighting experience.
'She chooses to fight in the air instead of this unstable ground? A good decision.' Demitra mentally thought. 'However, even if the floor is this unstable, it will have no affect on my abilities.'
When Haruko jump in mid-air, she charged at Demitra with her abilities, leaving her shocked. Zane was surprised that Haruko can charge that quick.
'She's fast! She got this close before I could notice!?' Demitra thought surprisingly. 'She's as quick as Yan!'
'Now all I have to do is get past her and I should be able to reach the stairs!' Haruko thought when she was around to get through. Until, the trident appeared out of nowhere as it was about to get to Haruko, but she managed to dodge that attack.
'A double-edged blade? Is that...a spear?' Haruko mentally questioned as she was about to strike. 'It doesn't matter what kind of weapon she's using! I'll just use mine to push hers aside and get past her!'
As Haruko was about to use her kendo stick, Demitra used her trident to broke it easily, leaving Haruko shocked.
'This is bad, Haruko has no idea what she was up against.' Zane thought. 'At this rate, if she don't fight against Demitra, she'll end up getting killed, and Takeru won't hear the end of it.'
'My shinai...she broke it!?' Haruko thought shockingly.
"Split the earth and grant me your blessing! Malevolent ruler of the sea! Jingu: Trident" Demitra revealed her Jingu that was trident she was wielding. "There's no point in using that stick to fight me. Hurry up and activate your Maken."
'Such fierce element.' Haruko thought as she began questioning her. "It might not look like much, but this shinai was actually pretty powerful. How did you break it?"
"I'll explained this to you." Zane told her as he explains. "She used the principle of how a water cutter cuts through objects, like your shinai. She made a wall by spinning the water at extremely high speed. By running her element into the water, she's able to destroy anything."
That got Haruko shocked when Zane explains about Demitra's ability.
"What Zane said is correct, I was able to destroy anything with my water elements." Demitra said stoically. "With that being said. Jet Fall"
Demitra used her element to form a water wall from behind which neither Haruko or Zane will be able to get through.
'She closed off the hallway behind her.' Haruko thought with a shock. 'Using a wall of water!?'
"Now, the only way to pass through here is to defeat me." Demitra told them seriously.
"She's right, there's no choice." Zane added seriously as they looked at Haruko when she was using her broken shinai to get through the window.
'What the hell is she doing? Haruko, if you don't stop screwing around, she'll kill you!?' Zane mentally shouting at her.
'Just as I thought, there's a barrier around the outside.' Haruko thought. 'So the whole third floor is enclosed in it.'
"It seems you still don't understand the situation you're in." Demitra told her, twirling her Jingu. "If creating the wall wasn't enough for you to understand, then I'll just have to show you what kind of danger you're in! Life Suction"
Zane was shocked when Demitra was using that ability as he turned to Haruko.
"HARUKO, LOOK OUT!" Zane yelled as Haruko turned to him, but is was too late. She felt that her body was trembled as her blood and water was sucked away by Demitra's Jingu.
'Shit! Demitra used that ability on me since 2 years ago. As far as I know, I haven't seen her used that in a while and it wasn't pretty.' Zane thought seriously.
"My blood and water...are leaving my body!?" Haruko said as she collapsed to her knees, coughing in pain.
"I admire how quickly you figured it out." Demitra praised as she explains. "A person will die if they lose more than 20% of the moisture in their body. Water is an absolute necessity to sustain a human's life. I'm using the 'Trident' to remove the water in your body. It has the ability to manipulate all water within it's range. Against something this powerful, you should fight with everything you got. Just like I did with Zane, he fought with everything he's got, but it come to the point that Zane fought with sheer will and strong battle determination."
Zane remembered that he fought against Demitra once since 2 years ago which of course, Demitra was formidable opponent that he fought and won this fight only because of his years of battle experience and his strong determination.
"You really are powerful, Demitra." Haruko said with a smile, panting heavily when she used her element to protect herself. Leaving Demitra surprised.
"Yes, protecting your body using your element was a good decision." Demitra praised. "However, if you aren't strong enough, then you're just wasting your strength defending."
"Using your 'Life Suction' on me should've given me a reason to fight you." Haruko said with a small smile. "But I already told you earlier, I don't want to fight. I still think of all of you from Venus as my friends."
Both Zane and Demitria sighed, knowing that Haruko refuses to fight.
"As friends, huh?" Demitra said with disappointment while pointing the trident at her. "All we did was cooperate with you for the past 2 months. Is that what you call 'being friends?'"
"That was something that friends don't do Haruko." Zane told her seriously. "Venus were following orders from Kamigari. They're orders was to capture Himegami and have her in custody in Kamigari HQ."
Haruko refuse to listen of what Demitra and Zane have told her.
"The time we spent together or what you think has nothing to do with how I feel." Haruko told her. "To me Demitra, you are a friend."
"That's pretty selfish of you." Demitra retorts. "Then what about Kodama Himegami? You have to get through me to save her, remember?"
"I'll save her, and I'll do it without having to fight you." Haruko said seriously.
'Haruko, you do realize that being kind won't do you any good?' Zane mentally questioned. 'To me, I find it pretty stupid and naïve.'
"You really are a very stubborn person." Demitra sighed. "Jet Fall"
Demitra unleashed her element to surround Haruko with water, leaving her trapped.
"Since you insist on not fighting, then you leave me no alternative." Demitra said disappointed as she turned to Zane. "Zane, you did have my respect since 2 years ago, but you knew that we've been cooperating with you and Maken Ki since 2 months ago."
"There's no denying it." Zane admits. "You and Venus were following orders of Kamigari which I'm not surprised about it."
"I knew that you wouldn't." Demitra sighed. "However, we have also got orders from Kamigari. And it's to take you to Kamigari."
Zane narrowed his eyes with a glare.
"I don't want to take that order only because you've been working with us." Demitra said. "But it's not only that, whenever I think of you I feel smitten with you. Even though, Syria was really smitten with you as well."
He couldn't help but feel blushed with a few shades of red when Demitra told him, even Haruko was blushing since she overheard their conversation.
"Wait, you meant to tell me that you were in love with him!?" Haruko questioned with a shout.
"Yes, I was smitten with him." Demitra answered with a blush as she began to change the subject. "However since we're off track, Haruko, I'll make it so you have no choice but to fight me. But first, I need to go back to the first floor, I'm going to beat those three that are with you until they're nearly dead and bring their bodies with you."
Haruko's eyes widen with shock and horror when she heard Demitra, but Zane scowled at her.
"You leave my sister out of this!" Zane growled with anger.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Demitra refused. "It'll be a while since I'm sure the other two will put up a fight, but if I'm not mistaken, that childhood friend of yours refuses to lay a hand on women, so he'll go down quickly. You'll feel like fighting after you see what I can-"
Both Zane and Haruko have heard enough as they unleash their Makens to attack Demitra, much to her dismay.
'As I expected, both Haruko and Zane didn't care about themselves but they'll become serious if others are in danger.' Demitra thought as she blocked their attacks. 'Haruko's the type who holds back her power, but Zane on the other hand, I've pushed him the wrong way whenever I put Azuki in danger.'
"You're a hassle to deal with." Demitra said.
"I won't let you hurt my sister!" Zane shouted with anger. "Especially to my friends!"
"I won't let you either!" Haruko said seriously. "You're not going to lay a hand on any of them!"
With that, Demitra took a few steps back as Haruko turned her head to Zane.
"Zane, I don't want you to interfere. I started this fight and I'm ending this." Haruko told him with resolve.
Zane knows that Haruko was right, giving her a nod with understanding. With that, Haruko began to clash against Demitra.
Tenbi Academy, Rooftop
Meanwhile, Lilou was using her ability to have Akaya foresee what was happening inside of Tenbi while he was bending his knees and positioned himself backwards in a very awkward way.
"Wha...What are you doing?" Himegami asked with a sweat drop.
"It's the result of my pursuit in finding the most elegant position." Akaya answered with sparkles on him. "I can put my forehead on hers while looking at the beautiful night sky! Don't you think it's wonderful?"
"It looks weird to me." Himegami said with dull expression. "But why are you doing that?"
"By putting my forehead on hers, I can see everything goes on within the barrier, including what has already happened and the location of each person." Akaya explains as he got up, leaving Himegami shocked. "The Finnian Sisters were the ones who created the barrier, they're able to see and feel everything that goes on within it. The God of the Heavens from the East versus the God of the Seas from the West, who will the Goddess of Victory smile upon, I wonder?"
Tenbi Academy
Meanwhile, the battle goes on as both Haruko and Demitra clashing against each other. When they took a few steps back, Haruko felt her hands were shaking due to the powerful blows she felt from Demitra.
'What power! My hands are going numb!' Haruko thought as she noticed that Heaven's Gate was snapped into two, leaving her shocked. 'Zane's powers were on par with mine when it unlocks. But only powerful opponents can knock off 'Heaven's Gate' and she did it with one swing, it just shows how powerful Demitra is.'
Before Demitra could go attack again, Haruko charge at her to get at close distance.
'She closed that much distance with one kick, as I suspected, she is quicker than me.' Demitra thought as Haruko attack while she blocked with her trident. They clash once more when they blocked and parried each others attacks, but Haruko was overwhelming her.
'I should have the adventage in reach, yet her skill with that sword won't allow me any openings to strike.' Demitra thought surprisingly. 'At this rate she will overpower me!'
When Haruko was about to strike, Demitra used her Element to divert her attack, leaving her shocked.
"Your ability with a sword is splendid, however..." Demitra said as she strikes with her trident while Haruko blocks. "This isn't a martial arts competition."
With that, Demitra activates her Jingu. "A Giant Whirlpool That Swallows Everything In It's Path! Aqua Blast"
Demitra fires her giant water at Haruko, sending her flying towards the wall which she landed with hard impact.
"We're not competing in who has better control over there weapon." Demitra told her seriously. "This is a fight between a Jingu and a Maken. Did you forget that?"
Haruko groaned in pain as she was about to get up, she noticed that water drops was surrounding her.
"I'm not finished! Shot Rain" Demitra used her Jingu to fire the rain drop as Haruko. However, Haruko barely dodged her attacks when the water hit Haruko at the back as she tries to get to the desk to hide.
"Just Wait! Would You Stop!" Haruko shouted as she manages to hide at the desk when the water drops missed it's target.
"She strong, stronger than anybody I've ever fought." Haruko said, panting heavily when she noticed that Demitra stopped. "What happened?"
'She stopped shooting at me, am I at her blind spot?' Haruko mentally questioned as she took a look, noticing that the flowers were at the desk. 'Those flowers, those are the ones Demitra arranged.'
Until, Demitra shoots those water drops at Haruko while she ducked out of the way, but she felt that her bra was broken as she touched her breasts.
'Oh, I ruined the bra that Himegami gave me.' Haruko thought with a blush. "I'll apologize to her later.'
However, both Zane and Demitra arrived that the classroom to look for Haruko when Zane used his Element to sense Haruko.
'Haruko, we're running out of time! You've got to finish this fight!' Zane mentally shouts.
"Why don't you draw your sword!?" Demitra asked with a shout when Haruko heard her.
"It doesn't seem to me like you're holding back, if that's the case." Demitra sighed. "Then the only conceivable reason I can think of is that Maken. You're scared of it, aren't you?"
Haruko was shocked when Demitra asked that question while her body was trembling. Zane knows that Haruko was hesitating during they're fight a few months back which she was afraid of killing him, realizing what Demitra have meant. Haruko was starting to remember about arriving at the dojo when she a kid 10 years ago.
Flashback, 10 years ago
Haruko have arrived at the dojo with her father since he discuss with the woman. She had a long red pony-tail hair, brown eyes, and wore a martial arts gi.
"Sorry about that, she always gets frightened easily and she's become a crybaby lately." Her father told the woman when Haruko was hiding behind him with teary eyes.
She bend her knees to Haruko's level and spoke with a smile.
"Don't be afraid, all the kids in the dojo can be silly at times, but they're very nice." She told her, leaving Haruko trembled. "You're very cute, Haruko. So I'm sure that he'd try and-hmm?"
Suddenly, she saw Takeru was sneaking from behind as he tip-toed to get to Haruko.
"Takeru!?" She shouts with a sweat drop, but Takeru flipped Haruko's skirt, leaving her screams while slapped him in the face.
"Wha-What Do You Think You're Doing!?" Haruko yelled with a blush while the woman bonked Takeru in the head.
"What Are You Doing, You Stupid Son Of Mine!" Takeru's mother yelled with anger.
Takeru couldn't help but chuckle with a goofy smile on his face.
Flashback Ended
'So that's what your face looks like.' Haruko thought with a smile.
"According to our data, you hold a Maken with overwhelming destructive power." Demitra explains. "But what I found most interesting is that your Maken is difficult to control, so the risks of harming your friends is high, is that what your afraid of?"
Haruko was having some deep thoughts about Demitra's question which she might be right.
'Yes, I'm afraid.' Haruko mentally admits. 'So afraid that my hands and legs won't stop shaking. Just like that time.'
Haruko remembers back in 10 years ago when she at the cliff, looking at the sight of the boy who was struggling at the river, calling for help. Haruko was helpless since she can't swim and was about to get some help. Until, Takeru rushed in as he jump off the cliff to get the tree branch while diving into the river, leaving her shocked when she saw Takeru saved him.
'That's when I decided I want to become, I want to become strong like him, just like him.' Haruko thought with a smile.
"However, it'll be the same even if you choose to not do anything. The lives of your friends and the one you love will-"
Haruko readied her Maken as she rushed towards Demitra which she couldn't see in the dark.
'Even if I can't see her, if I trace her element then.' Demitra thought as she used her Element to find her which she saw her charging. 'There you are, Haruko!'
"Shot Rain" Demitra fires her water element at the wall, but Haruko slashed the wall with her own Element, leaving her shocked.
'I'm still a coward and a cry baby, but those feelings I have won't ever change!' Haruko thought with a resolve as she unsheathe her Maken and spoke with a blush. "Let me just say this, Take is just my childhood friend and nothing more."
Zane face palmed his forehead, knows that Haruko was a bit too emotional.
'I didn't just say 'the one you love,' but she seems more emotional than usual.' Demitra thought when she saw Haruko's Maken was coated with light Element. 'Putting her aside, her sword, that light emitting from it...are those 'photons'? If she uses the heat energy from those photons, then it's possible to evaporate water. She's releasing such a huge amount of energy, is she doing that to make me hesitate?'
'So that's her power from that Maken!? No wonder she was holding her back the entire time, her element was light and that Murakumo was surrounded with photons. One slash out of that Maken and she's toast.' Zane mentally thought with surprise and shock.
When Demitra was getting in her fighting stance, Haruko was using her Element to her Maken.
'This power, I'll show you that I can control it!' Haruko thought as she spoke. "I am Haruko Amaya, the Vice President of the Student Council. Prepare Yourself!"
With that, Haruko charge against Demitra once more.
'She's using her Element to surround her sword with photons. Attacking her with water won't work.' Demitra thought as she thought of a counterattack. "I've never been one to go on the defensive. I'll take you on."
"Lord Of The Sea, Quench The Thirst Of Those That Roam The Land! Grant Them Your Eternal Blessing! Split The Earth, Erekuteisu" Demitra stabbed the floor with her trident to unleash the water against Haruko.
"Light Illumination" Haruko unleashed her power to split the water in half with her Maken that was coated with photons, leaving her shocked.
Haruko charged at her with a shout as she slashed Demitra at the chest, leaving her coughed with blood.
"Zane!" The voice called out as Zane turned to his right which happens to be his sister, Azuki climbing up the stairs looking for her brother.
However, Demitra was enraged as she pushed Haruko with her Jingu, leaving her landed on the floor.
'Wha!? She can still move even though I cut her that deeply!?' Haruko mentally shouts as she saw Demitra charged against her with rage when she slammed Haruko to the ground with her Jingu. 'You really are powerful. Your ability and your determination, it was like I'm fighting against Zane.'
Both Zane and Azuki was shocked that Demitra was going to kill Haruko. Azuki was about to stop this fight, but Zane grabbed her arm, telling his sister not to interfere which she understands.
"Why are you willing to go this far!?" Haruko exclaimed.
"Because I was ordered to!" Demitra shouted as she swung her Jingu, making Haruko's Maken move to the side, leaving her wide open.
"DID YOU THINK YOU HURT ME ENOUGH TO MAKE ME BACK DOWN!?" Demitra shouted as she thrust her Jingu straight to Haruko.
"Haruko!" Azuki screamed with worry.
"Light Burst" Haruko's Maken shines green as an explosion followed, blowing Demitra away.
"Holy shit!" Azuki cursed.
Zane narrowed his eyes with a shock, knowing that her attack was similar to his, but knows that it was suicidal.
'She caused an explosion knowing it would damage her too!?' Demitra thought with a shock. Her body was burnt, but she use her water element to heal her body while Haruko panted heavily, held her right arm from the pain of an explosion she had made with her Maken.
"If you still insist on fighting because you were 'ordered' then..." Haruko said while gripping her Maken with both of her hands and raised it high into the air as the jewel shined.
"There's no way that I'm going to lose to you!" Haruko proclaimed as a beam of light hit Murakumo, shocking the Shinatsu siblings.
"She's drawing her powers from the outside of the barrier!" Zane exclaimed.
"That's amazing!" Azuki exclaimed with amazement.
"It is, but she only got one shot at this!" Zane said seriously.
"What an enormous power, I can't allow you to continue doing that." Demitra said as she gets into her fighting stance, ready for another attack.
"Aqua-"
However, Demitra stopped when she noticed a pair of flowers in a small vase was tumbled down due to Haruko's power. Zane noticed that Demitra stopped her attack while staring at the flowers.
'I see, she starting to gain some conscious. Demitra did help Haruko with those flowers.' Zane thought as he noticed that Demitra was trapped because of those chains wrapped around her legs. 'Haruko must've used her ability to melt those chains to trap her. Smart move.'
'The photons around the chain...they're melting it. She used her element to send photons through the Maken and then snuck it through the crack on the floor that my 'Erekuteisu' caused? It's traced with photons, so I won't be able to use water to escape.' Demitra thought as she spoke. "You're that serious, huh?"
"This Blade That Even The Gods Fear..." Haruko began to enchant those words as light then started falling from the sky, making the spectators witness this power.
"She's doing it." Zane said with his eyes-widen.
"Cut Down..."
'I won't be able to avoid it, in that case!' Demitra thought as she got her Jingu ready as the jewel shines.
"That Which Stands In My Way!" Haruko declared as she swung her sword down.
"Split The Heavens! Kusanagi" Haruko's Maken became one with the beam of light as the blade came down upon Demitra.
"The Giant Pillar That Sustains The Sea! Bureouina" Demitra sends her Jingu up as water shot from it and clashed with the blade of light, but the blade destroyed it and impacted against Demitra.
"BRACE YOURSELF!" Zane shouted as he used his gunblade to stab the ground while grab hold of his sister, bracing themselves for the aftershock. Both Zane and Azuki cover their faces while holding on the gunblade since the wind hits them hard. After the blade of light vanished, leaving the smoke and crumbling debris from the ceiling. The aftermath of the attack was that the ceiling and the upper-floors was sliced and the barrier was ripped through.
'Shit, that attack was way stronger than I thought. She finally have confidence in her, but only a little.' Zane thought as he lets go of his sister while witnessing the aftermath.
Both Haruko and Demitra panted heavily with the former of how much power she exerted into her final attack while the latter was panting from the pain and shock that she was still alive.
"Why...why am I..." Demitra couldn't finish her sentence from the shock she felt. 'Alive!? Only my right arm is burned...How can this be!? With that much power I should have..."
Demitra then turned around to find the ceiling and upper-floors were not only sliced in half, but the water was poured out from the ground that was split, making a new river.
"Now I understand. I didn't survive...she let me...live." Demitra said as the trident broke off and fell into the ground while Haruko collapsed to her knee, holding her Maken.
"Takeru, am I...a little closer to becoming strong like you now?" Haruko asked herself, thinking of what Takeru would while Zane and Azuki looked at Haruko with a smile.
That's it for the 16th chapter. Sorry about the delay.